New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-04
MANUAL TRAINING FAVORED.
NEED OF 1T IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

NEED OF 1T IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
REPORT OF The COMMITTEE ON COURSE OF STUDIES
TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
During the summer the members OF the Board OF
Education will have full leisure to consider the intro
ducton OF the forms Of ndr stria education or man
ual training In the public schools OF the city, re-
port that has Just been prepared by the on
the Course OF Studies will be considered at the meet
ing on Wednesday and will probably be referred tor
action until tho October meeting. The committee
that has been investigating the subject during the last
year consists of Commissioners Charles L. Holt. Miss
Grace H. Dodge, William Wood, De Witt j. Seligman
aud E. J. NJ Hansen. Speaking with regard to the
subject last week. of the members OF the Board
said that the report was perhaps the most complete
document on this subject to be found.
Last tall superintendent John Jasper WAS directed
to examine the methods of manual training now
ght In Europe and in the United States Assistant
Supeintendents Harrison and Goodwin, who tor halt
a century have been engaged in educational work,
visited personally and inspected the industrial schools
in the vicinity of New-York, Boston, Philadelphia and
Western cities The entire force OF the superintend-
ents department has been engaged during six months
In arranging and formulating the results and
suggestions of this examination. The whole matter
was embodied by MIR. jasper in q report to the COM
mittee and by the committee 1t was revised dnd
placed in Its present shape before the Board. II Will
BE- printed and each member will have copy to ex-
anime.
Frederick W. Devoe was one of the first members
TO urge this subject on the Board several years ago.
and among the present members President Simmons,
william Lummis, w. A. Cole. HenrJ L.. Sprague and
Others strongly in favor of introducing technical
education in somo practical manner In the school
studies The report presents an outline OF general
plan for primary and grammar grades and Mr. Holt
has carefully considered the probable cost that the
changes would entail. The COMMITTEES is opposed TO
extending the hours of school, establishing separate
schools OF senliug pupils to outside schools for such
instruction Ii Is proposed to effect the object with
the aid of special teachers and by curtaling some OF
the present studies. The report iii probably be
modified by the Board before 1. is nnally adopted. 1t
means one member remarked almost q revolution in
one of the largest public school systems In the world,
and the greatest caution Is needed in adopting tho
new measures The report IN substance 10 rs follows;
The Committee Course OF Study. to which was
referred the subject OF the introduction OF manual
training into our common schools have gwen the
ton and Investigation which its great Importance de-
mands Inquiry into It's origin and Development in
Russia, Germany Franco, England and other foreign
countries shows that lis leading purpose in Europe is
to foster industrial skill and to produce specialists
artisans in order to advance the interests when these
manufacturing nations have in domestic ana foreign
trade aud that only incidental reference IS had In
most cases. to ts general educational disciplinary and
intellectual relations The disciplinary effects OF
proper instruction in the various departments OF draw
ing independent of It's merely unitarian aspects, were
already well understood and appreciated. 1t wac
nseparabe part and indeed the very basis of the whole
system manual training to reproduce the pictured
ing in much more thorough and complete way the very
principle and discipline involved in the drawing itself
Much OF the detail OF the plans and purposes OF the
European system has udlciousy modified and the
subject made III to be Incorporated Into our system
Boston St. Louis, New-York. Chicago, Philadelphia
Baltimore and several other cities OF less pus
not less Intelligent zeal for education have ALREADY
made 1t part OF their educational facilities either ~
establishing special corporate schools or by adding 10
tha
which corporate and Others the llgher parts OF
t9 Of NewYorS for example has adopted the shop
and laboratory parts OF the course OF instruction. put
with such notifications aud additions as 10 bring them
into closer accordance with requirements OF great
commercial as well a. manufacturing community.
IL has long been matter OF deep regret and even OF
apprehension. that a large proportion OF our young
people are growing up with positive distaste iot
manual labor. With an ever increasing number almost
any form OF occupation In preferred ON the other
hand. the Introduction OF manual training IN some one
more OF Us various forms INTO many OF te SCHOOLS
higher educational institutions or the country mas
about state OF things II cannot be doubted that
this result must become more and more manifest wlen
this training. IA suitably modified forms, becomes me
common possession OF schools and pupils OF every grade
As these advantages Afforded only TO few only
or in some instances the highest grade OF the gram
school. Little. therefore, has been done Tor tue
more than 10 per cent ever reach these advanced grades
These also need the advantages OF such training but
forced by circumstances To leave school years before
their favored associates In some cities II IL true
much good work IA done In the form OF voluntary exer
miscellaneous objects Important "a hi, expedent un
quesonably is II cannot be made to take tue place or
produce the results OF regular and graded work In the
This question o, what shall be done for all pupils boys
and girls Is the most Important one involved In the con
sidcration OF manual training as part OF common
school instruction II has received the attention Of
many of most eminent educators, and the practical
results OF their careful study and experience are sun
stantally embodied in this report The general features
OF the plan may be readily understood Many years
the kindergarten of Froebe was introduced into this
country. like manual trimming It is one OF those new
and fresh conceptions OF true education which must con-
time to arise with the advance OF our knowledge OF
Although Of widely different origin and purpose It's close
pedagogical relations to manual training and the iden
apparent upon investigation IL Is now seen that neither
its full and proper extension and development and that
tho wide gap at present existing between the kinder
tsnding the methois Of the one upward through tho
primary school, and the methods OF the other downTad
through several grades OF the school This
will be but safe and proper Application or that funda
mental educational principle. which should underlie and
unity the whole course, namely the development OF
certain faculties and apttudes by the cultivation OF the
perceptions in5ring correct conceptions OF forms
and testing and manfesng their accuracy by embodi-
From a consideration Of all the facts and arguments
presented our committee have come TO the following
First That the Introduction Of what is generally
known rs manual training would be an improvement to
our present course study. We from consider
those who attribute many OF the evils OF society to exist
ing system OF public education on the contrary We
convinced Of the beneficial results OF the system that
think the greatest should be taken lest in trying
Improve It really njure it, All healthy life is In
separable from growth and change our schools OF to-
day compared rather contrased with those of forty
years ago notable progress In the adoption OF moro
perfect methods such rs loss memorizng, moro
humane discipline, and cultivation OF the aesthetic
capabilities and OF sefcontro But the fact that great
Improvement has been made points clearly to the posi-
bility OF still further Improvement
Second-fhat manual training Ia admissible into our
schools only OF general, not special educa-
ton The Industries Of this metropolis are too diverse.
the sentiment OF equality IL too strong the ambition 10
rise general to allow of any scheme that shall des
ignate certain pupils for particular walks In life.
Third-That Notwithstanding the misdrection Of some
OF the efforts heretofore made In manual training there
are certain manual operations which time and expert
have sufficiently tested to demonstrate their
fulncss ana their Availability These operations such
lead the pupil To acquire concep OF
FORM through the careful and systematic discipline Of
his perceptions, and TO require test OF the
accuracy OF these conceptions the correct manual
Dodiment In material and further 10 give knowledge OF
the qualities of ,materias and OF natural laws They